Comb



B. M. SCHWEIZER 2,515,967

COMB

Filed June 15, 1947 July 18, 1950 ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1950 JUNITED "STATES COMB t I 'BernardM. Schweiz er, Nashville, assignor, of one-half to Eisele & Company, Nashville,

Application June 13, 1947-,Serial No. 754,356 i g 2 Claims. (01.13248 This invention relates to hair combs, the primary object of the invention being. to provide a comb of this type so constructed as to permit cleaning thereof with unusual ease.

As is well known, accumulations of dirt and the like result through regular use of combs of conventional construction, these accumulations occurring in the several crotches defined by the intersection of the teeth of the comb, with the back piece thereof. ,It is further well known that removal of these accumulations is a trouble,- some and difficult task, since they are such that mere irrigation of the comb is not sufficient, and it is'necessary in conventionally-formed combs ,usually to remove each accumulation separately.

In the presentinvention, the. comb, stating the invention briefly, is equipped with a cooperating cleaning member having spaced teeth that extend through and beyond the crotch portions of the comb, coinciding between the regular teeth.

In the invention, the accumulations of dirt and other foreign matter form on the. teeth of the cleaning member. The comb and'cleaning meme ber zare so constructed, inthis connection, that the cleaning member is adapted for an unusual movement, in cleaning the comb, in a line parallel to the regular teeth of the comb, and thus the accumulations are readily removed during the action to be described in detail hereinafter, since they are caused to occur on portions of the comb which are made movable with respect to each other. By using the cleaning member as described, all accumulations are simultaneously fully dislodged, and easily Washed away-with: a small amount of irrigation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, with a portion removed, of a comb constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a slidable cleaning member embodied in the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 generally designates the comb proper, that is. formed with the customary enlargediend teeth 6 andintermediate teeth I.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, .a comb is shown .that has only one type of intermediate teeththese being in:the nature of. coarse or widely spaced teeth. However, this type. of comb is shown purely for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and as will be apparenthereinafter, the comb .canbe of the type having both coarse and fine teeth, and can in fact be adapted to the construction of most types of conventional hair combs.

- The back of the comb 5 has been shown: at 8, and as well known; the lower portion thereof, in conjunction with the intermediate teeth I, .defines. a plurality. of crutches 9 disposed :between the various teeth 1. In conventional combs, as is well known, accumulations of dirt orother foreign matter tend to occur in these crotches; They are customarily removable only bythe use of a sharp, pointed object, accompanied by irrigation under .considerable pressure.

In theiinvention, a longitudinal groove -or channel I0 is. provided in the back 8 of the comb 5, that preferably extends from end to end thereof, this groove 10. preferably being of inwardly tapering formation whenviewed: in cross section, as is :apparentlfromFigure 2. v .By the provision of this 'groove, it is seen that longitudinal shoulders *llare defined on either side of theupper end-of the groove, extending from ,endto'end of the back 8. o l v ll In depth,the groove ID extends below-the bottom edgeaof the back 8, into the upper portions of the several intermediate teeth 1, asshown at l2inFigure2r' I The outer surfaces of the upper portions of the end teeth or posts Gare fiat, as shown at l3, and intersect the top edge of the back 8 at right angles thereto, these defining end shoulders.

Mounted on the comb 5 is a cleaning member I4, that comprises a back piece t5 extending longitudinally of the comb 5, and positioned above the top edge of the back 8 of the comb, defining a hand grip. At its ends, this is provided with downwardly extended guiding fingers l6, that are positioned beyond the respective end shoulders [3 of the comb 5, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The inner surfaces of the fingers it are flat, to correspond to the formation of the end shoulders l3 of the comb 5, and are slidable relative thereto, in lines parallel to lines drawn longitudinally through the center of the intermediate teeth 1.

Additionally, the cleaning member I4 is provided at the sides of its longitudinal inner surface with longitudinal shoulders I1 that normally engage the shoulders H of the back 8. Between the shoulders, and extended longitudinally of the cleaning member, is a depending rib 11'. At spaced intervals, a plurality of cleanin teeth It extend downwardly from the rib 11' of the cleaning member, into the groove II]. In cross-section, these are each of tapering formation, corresponding to the taper of the groove II and fit snugly therein. I

The cleaning teeth I 8 are so formed on the cleaning member l4, and spaced relative to the teeth 1 of the comb proper as to result in each cleaning tooth coinciding between adjacent in- 1, as best shown in Figure 1. As a result, they constitute in eiiectextensions into the crotches 9. During normal use of the comb, with the cleaning member mounted thereon as shown in Figure 1, accumulations of dirt and foreignv matter will obviously, therefore, tend to occur on the ends of the cleaning teeth.

During normal use of the comb, it may be preferable to retain the. cleaning member in locked 'positionrelative to the comb proper, and as one example of how this may be accomplished, I provide a. lock pin 19, received in a transverse opening extending through .the back 8 of the comb: 5, and through the rib ll of the cleaning member M.

In use of a comb. constructed in. accordance with the invention, the lock pin 19 is removed, freeing the cleaning member I for slidable movement relative to the comb 5.. The movement in question is enacted in a line parallel with a line drawn longitudinally through the center or any of the teeth 1;. that is, the cleaning teeth 1.8. are moved in. lines parallel to the teeth 1. 'In eiiecting such. movement, the back piece I" is gripped, in one. hand, while the comb 5 isgripped in the. other hand. They are alternatively moved apart and toward each other, with. the inner shoulder of the guiding fingers l6 sliding on the end shoulders 13.. In conjunction with this movement, irrigation may be employed. However, it is seen that the main. cleaning action results. from dislodgement. of. the. dirt accumulation from the end of each cleaning tooth l8, as the tooth is withdrawn from the. crotch 9 into which it extends. suit, simultaneously removed, and additionally, throughout the cleaning action, are. kept. separate one from the other, and all tendency thereof to become embedded in the groove in itself is effectively prevented.

The dislodging of the several accumulations, by a cleaning action permitted with a comb constructedas set. forth, is. effected almost immeditermediate teeth the accumulations are, as a reing member into and out of the ately, upon one or two movements of the parts of the comb relative to each other. This, as will be readily seen, is by reason of my particular construction, whereby, when the cleaning member I 4 is properly positioned as shown and described, there is a complete and simultaneous meshing of all its cleaning teeth l8 from end to end thereof, with the teeth of the comb 5, thus creating full penetration and permitting thorough cleaning by a simple up and down movement.

After the above operation, if desired, the clean- M can be withdrawn completely, and the groove l0 irrigated to complete the cleaning.

The cleaning member is then returned to position, and the lock pin I9 again inserted.

What is claimed is:

1. A comb, comprising a back having a longitudinal groove, end and intermediate teeth on the back, said groove extending in depth below the meeting line of the back and teeth, and a cleaning member mounted on the back for movement into and out of the groove in lines parallel to the teeth, said member comprising a back piece, depending guiding fingers on the. ends thereof extending along the outer surfaces of and slidably engageable-with the respective end teeth, and cleaning teeth on the back piece, each cleaning tooth being extended into the groove between adjacent intermediate and end teeth of the comb.

2. A comb, comprising a back having a. longitudinal groove, end and intermediate teeth on the back, said groove extending in depth below the meeting line of the back and teeth, a cleaning member mounted on the back for movement groove along lines parallel to the teeth, said member comprising a back piece, depending guiding fingers on the ends thereof, said fingers being positioned beyond the respective end teeth and being slidably engageable with the outer surfaces of the end teeth, cleaning teeth on the back piece, each cleaning tooth being extended into the groove adjacent intermediate and end teeth of the comb, and a removable locking means extending between the cleaning member and the back.

BERNARD M. SCHW'EIZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

